Apparatus for removing blanks from a magazine



1360- 19621 H. E. ENGLESON ETAL APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BLANKS FROM AMAGAZINE Filed July 17, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet l u-N w mE mL 6 WN 1E E Y RR A H ELMER 0. SRAMEK Dec. 18, 1962 H. E. ENGLESON ETAL 3,

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BLANKS FROM A MAGAZINE Filed July 17, 1959 5Sheets-Sheet 2 ATT'YS BY y w a w IV .J 1H,

Dec. 18 1962 H. E. EN'GLESON ETAL 3,069,15

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BLANKS FROM A MAGAZINE Filed July 17, 1959 5Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5

INVENTORS'.

HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK Filed July 17, 1959 Dec. 18, 1962 H.E. ENGLESON ETAL 3,06 5

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BLANKS FROM A MAGAZINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 6

III/Aw INVENTORS:

HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK MHZ-f ATT'YS 3,069,158 APPARATUS FORREMOVING BLANKS FROM A MAGAZINE Filed July 17, 1959' D 13, 1952 H. E.ENGLESON ETAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 34 INVENTORS. HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D.SRAMEK' United States Patent 3,069 158 APPARATUS FOR REM'KD JWG BLANKSFROM A MAGAZINE Harry E. Engleson, Chicago, and Elmer D. Sramelr,Cicero, Ill, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Cramp ton dc KnowlesCorporation, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed July17, 1959, Ser. No. 827,933 Claims. (Cl. 27129) This invention relates ingeneral to an apparatus for removing blanks from a magazine or amagazine unwhich are initially received from the carton and traymanufacturers in flat or collapsed condition thereby necessitating anerection or set-up operation. Hereinafter the term blank will be usedwhich is to cover a carton or tray. The usual manner of handling blanksis to feed them one by one to an erection apparatus, and since theblanks usually come in stacks, they are removed one at a time from amagazine by an apparatus. Inasmuch as the overall speed of a packagingmachine must be relatively fast, it also necessitates a relatively highspeed magazine unloader or apparatus for removing blanks from amagazine.

The apparatus for removing blanks one at a time from a magazineaccording to the present invention includes a first supporting memberarranged to support the stack of blanks centrally thereof, suction headsfor pulling downwardly opposite unsupported end portions of thelowermost blank, and a second stack supporting means in the form ofopposed blades for supporting the stack at opposite edge portionsthereof. The suction heads and first stack support are mounted on acommon vertically reciprocable carrier which eliminates any necessityfor complex mechanical construction.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedapparatus for removing blanks from a magazine.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of anapparatus for removing blanks one at a time from a stack of blanks heldin a magazine, which is capable of operating at a relatively high rateof speed.

While it may be appreciated that the present invention provides anapparatus which is capable of removing blanks one at a time from "astack of blanks without inflicting any damage or marks on .the blanksduring removal thereof from the magazine, another important featureinvolves resiliently mounting the suction heads or cups in order tocompensate for any irregularities in the blanks such as a bowing orwarping thereof, thereby assuring positive removal of a blank from themagazine during each cycle of operation of the apparatus. The springloaded suction heads move upwardly beyond a horizontal plane in whichthe lowermost blank would normally be positioned.

3,059,158 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 Ofilice in the magazine.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus forremoving blanks from a magazine, wherein a better removal action isaccomplished, and wherein the suction heads or cups are resilientlymounted to compensate for bowing, warping, or other irregularities inthe blanks.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like referencenumerals refer to like parts, in which:

PK]. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus for removing blanks from amagazine, according to the invention, with some parts broken away toshow underlying parts for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a perspective detail view of the center stack support andsuction heads;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the various mechanisms provided fordriving the apparatus of the present invention in timed sequentialrelation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tray that may be stacked in themagazine for removal therefrom;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of PEG. 1and illustrating in plan view the arrangement of several operatingcomponents in the an paratus of the present invention; and

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are sectional views of the apparatus according tothe invention, taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, andillustrating sequential steps in the movement of the associatedcomponents during operation of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, the apparatusof the present invention includes generally a magazine 10 for holding astack of blanks 11 (FIGS. 6 to 9), a stack support 12 arranged centrallybelow the magazine 10, a second stack support including coacting opposedblades 13, and opposed coacting sets of suction heads 14. The blanks areremoved one at a time from the magazine and lowered to a pair ofsupporting rails 15, FIGS. 1 and 5, along which they are advanced to astation in a packing or packaging machine for further operation thereon.The blanks are advanced along the rails 15 by pushers 16 carried onspaced endless chains 17. All of the above machanisms are generallysupported on a mounting plate 18.

Each chain 17 is trained around spaced sprockets 19, arranged generallyat opposite sides of the magazine ill. The sprockets 19 are carried onshafts 2throtatably mounted along a vertical axis in frame piecessecured to the mounting plate 18. The shafts 2h at one end of each chainhave mounted at their lower ends bevel gears 21 in meshing engagementwith bevel gears 22 carried on a horizontally extending shaft 23. Theshaft 23 may be connected to any suitable drive source of the machine.

The magazine 10 includes four re-ctangularly arranged guide bars 24 forcontaining a stack of blanks. At the lower ends of the guide bars 24,stripping blades 25, HQ. 1, are mounted and project inwardly a slightdistance to serve as stripping or separating members during the removalof the blanks one at a time from the magazine.

The stack supporting blades 13 are mounted on the lower ends of arms 26,the upper ends of the arms being secured to shafts 27 which are suitablypivotally mou a to the mounting plate 18. As seen in PEG. 3, the s s 7are further secured to meshing segmental gears one of which has anextension 2% having a cam follower 3t mounted thereon. The cam follower3:: is received in a cam track 31 of a cam wheel or disk 32 mounted on adriven shaft 33. Thus, rotation of the shaft 33 and cam wheel 32oscillates the extension 29 and the segmental gears 28 which, in turn,oscillate the shafts 27 and the stack supporting blades 13. The mannerin which the stack supporting blades 13 support the stack of blanks iiis seen in FIG. 6, wherein the blades support opposite edge portions ofthe stack.

The stack support 12 arranged below the magazine 19 is carried on theupper end of a vertically reciprocable post 34, and includes threespaced horizontal plates 35, 36 and 37. The outer plates and 37 extendinwardly from upwardly projecting mounting bars 38 and 39, respectively, which are in turn carried on a transversely extendingsupport member 40 mounted directly on the post 34. The center plate 36is carried on the upper end of a mounting bar 41 which is secured at itslower end to the support member 4%. As seen most clearly in FIG. 5, thespacing of the plates 35, 36 and 37 provides clearance for thesupporting rails 15 and the innermost runs of the chains 17. As alsoseen in FIG. 5, the plates 35, 36 an 37 are in alignment with each otherand arranged substantially along a vertical plane extending centrallythrough the magazine 10.

The post 34 may be suitably supported and guided by the framework of theapparatus, and is vertically reciprocated by means of a cam wheel ordisk 42 having a cam track 43 receiving a cam follower 44 therein whichis mounted on a bellcrank 45. The bellcrank 45 is pivote on a fixed pin46 carried by the frame of the apparatus, and has a push-pull link 47pivotally attached to one end. The push-pull link is, in turn, pivotallyconnected to the pin 43 on a block 49 secured to the post 34. The camwheel 42 is mounted on a ribbon shaft 50, whereby rotation of the shaft50 and cam wheel 42 oscillates the bellcrank .5 about the pin 46 toreciprocate the link 47 connected to the post 34- thereby reciprocatingthe post 34 and the stack support 12 mounted thereon.

The suction heads 14 are mounted in sets or gangs wherein three suctioncups 51 of suitable flexible matcr'tl such as neoprene rubber, arearranged on opposite sides of the stack support 12 and carried on spacedmounting bars 52 and 53. The mounting bars 52 and 53 have, respectively,arms 54 and 55 connected therewith and pivotally secured to the outersides of the mounting bars 38 and 39. Thus, an arm 54 is arranged atopposite ends of the mounting bar 52 and an arm 55 is also arranged atopposite ends of the mounting bar 53. The arms are angularly positionedrelative to the longitudinal axes of the suction heads 14.

Operation of the suction heads 14 is accomplished by a cam wheel or disk56 carried on a driven shaft 57, and having a cam track 58 receiving acam follower The cam follower 59 is mounted on an arm 69 of a tri-armedbellcrank 61 pivotal on a fixed pin 62. The bellcrank 61 also includesan arm 63 angularly related to the arm and pivotally connected to oneend of a connecting link 64. The other end of the link 64 is pivotallyconnected to an extension 65 integral with the mounting bar 52 of one ofthe banks of suction heads. A second arm 66 is provided on the bellcrank61 and angular-1y positioned relative to the arms 6% and 63. The arm 66has pivotally connected to its outer end a connecting link 67 which hasits other end pivotally connected to the end of an arm 68 of a T-shapedbellcrank 69. The bellcrank 69 includes a second arm 76 which ispivotally mounted at one end to a fixed shaft 71 and pivotally mountedat the other end to a connecting bar 72. An extension 73 projectsdownwardly from the mounting bar 53 of the other bank of suction headsand has pivotally connected thereto the other end of the connecting bar72. The linkage and bellcranks between the cam wheel 56 and the suctionheads 14 are arranged to operate the suction heads synchronously so thatthey pivot downwardly and outwardly together during the operation of theapparatus. Thus, driving of the shaft 57 and cam wheel 56 pivots oroscillates the suction heads 14 on the upper end of the post 3d.inasmuch as the suction heads are pivotally mounted to a supportingframework for part of the stack support 12, it will be preciated thatthe suction heads move up and down with the up and down movement of thestack support 12.

One form of blank that may be handled in stack form, with the apparatusof the present invention, is a tray blank as shown in FIG. 4 andgenerally designated by the numeral 74. The positioning of this trayblank in the magazine 10 is shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, and it may also beseen in FIG. 5 how the suction cups 51 are arranged to engage theopposite edge portions of the tray blank. It is noted that suction cupsare positioned quite close to the opposite edges of the tray blank inorder to obtain a peeling action of the lowermost blank from the nextlowermost blank during removal of the blanks one at a time from themagazine.

Inasmuch as irregularities sometimes exist in the blanks, such as bowingor warping, that may be caused by manufacturing processe or handling,each suction cup 51 is individually spring mounted to compensate forsuch irregularities. It is necessary to contact each tray blankcompletely with all of the suction cups at the same time in order toobtain the suction gripping action since all of the cups areintercommunicated with a common vacuum source.

Accordingly, each suction cup 51 is mounted on the upper end of a hollowstem 75 slidably carried by a horizontal arm 76 of a bracket 77upstanding from the mount ing bars 52 and 53, FIGS. 6 to 9. The lowerends of the suction cup stems 75 are also slidably guided in an inwardlyextending flange 78 carried by the brackets 77, and the lower ends ofthe stems are connected to a common vacuum line 79, FIG. 6. A stop 89 ismounted on the underside of the arm 76 and secured to the stem 75. Thestop 80 is also provided with a bore for slidably receiving a guide pin81 carried by a bracket 82 secured to the stem 75 above the arm 76. Thepin 81 is also received in a bore extending through the arm 76 andtherefore prohibits rotational movement of the stem 75. A coil spring 83embraces the stem 75 and is bottomed at one end against th upper side ofthe flange 7S and at the other end against the bottom side of the stop80 to continually urge the stop and stem upwardly until the stop abutsagainst the under side of the arm 76.

A vacuum control valve 84, FIG. 3, may be provided to control the vacuumfor the suction heads 14, wherein a plunger 85 on the valve 84 isoperated by a bellcrank 86 cammed into position by a block 87 carried onthe post 34.

The shafts 33, 50 and 57, mounting the cam wheels 32, 42 and 56,respectively, are interconnected to a common drive in order to efiectsynchronous and sequential timed operation of the various movablecomponents of the apparatus.

In operation of the apparatus of the present invention, FIGS. 6 to 9,the initial position of the stack support blades 13, the stack support12 and the suction heads 14 is shown in FIG. 6, wherein the blades 13are supporting the stack of blades 11 at opposite edge portions thereof,and the stack support 12 and suction heads 14 are in lowered position,and the longitudinal axes of the suction heads extend along asubstantially vertical axis. The post 34 advances the stack support 12and the suction heads 14 upwardly to the position as seen in FIG. 7,wherein the stack of blades 11 is actually lifted upwardly a distancefree of the blades 13 in order to relieve the weight of the stack on theblades 13 and to assure that all of the suction cups 51 are in suctionengaging position with the bottommost blank 74a. The vacuum source tothe suction heads 51 will have been established prior to the engagementof the suction cups 51 with the lowermost blank. It may also be noted inFIG. 7 that the center stack support 12 engages the bottommost blankalong the center of the stack. In actual practice, the upper engagingsurface of the suction cups 51 will normally be slightly above the upperengaging surfaces of the stack support 12, whereby the suction cups willbe spring loaded against the under side of the bottommost blank 74a whenthe suction cups reach the position as seen in FIG. 7.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the blades 13 have withdrawn from beneath theouter edges of the stack of blanks 11, followed by pivotal movement ofthe suction heads 14 about their pivot points on the mounting bars 38and 39 to peel the opposite edge portions of the lowermost blank fromthe next lowermost blank. After the pivotal movement of the suctionheads 14, a void space is defined at oposite sides of the stack betweenthe lowermost blank and the next lowermost blank into which the stacksupporting blades 13 are inserted. The post 34 with the suction headsand the stack support 12 is then moved downwardly to remove thelowermost blank completely from the bottom of the stack and to depositit on the supporting rails 15. Prior to the time that the blank isdeposited on the rails 15, the suction heads 14 will return to normalposition, as seen in FIG. 6, and the suction will be broken to thesuction cups 51 to elfect a smooth and easy deposit of the blank on thesupporting rails 15.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention, but it is understood that this application is to be limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. Apparatus for successively removing the bottommost blank from a stackof blanks in a magazine comprising, a pair of opposed coactingsupporting blades for supporting the stack at opposite sides thereof andmounted for reciprocation into and out of stack supporting position, avertically movable member below said magazine, a stack support carriedon said movable member, opposed suction heads pivotally carried on saidmovable member for gripping opposite end portions of said bottommostblank and to pull said end portions downwardly and inwardly to how thecartons about the stack support thereby defining void spaces between thenext bottommost blank and the bottommost blank for receiving thecoacting supporting blades, said suction heads being resiliently mountedon said movable member for movement along an axis perpendicular to saidblanks during initial engagement of the bottommost blank by said heads,and means to operate said coacting supporting blades, movable member andsuction heads in timed sequential relation, whereby the coactingsupporting blades are moved into stack supporting position forsupporting the stack when said stack support is moved downwardly withthe bottommost blank gripped by the suction heads.

2. Apparatus for successively removing the bottommost blank from a stackof blanks in a magazine comprising, a pair of opposed stack supportingblades tior supporting the stack at opposite sides thereof and mountedfor oscillation into and out of stack supporting position, a verticallymovable member positioned below the magazine, a stack support carried onsaid movable member and arranged centrally of the magazine forsupporting the stack along a central area thereof, opposed suction headspivotally mounted on said movable member for gripping opposite endportions of said bottommost blank to pull said end portions downwardlyand inwardly and how the cartons about the stack support therebydefining void spaces between the next bottommost blank and thebottommost blank for receiving the opposed stack supporting blades, saidsuction heads being resiliently mounted on said movable member formovement along an axis perpendicular to said blanks during initialengagement of the bottommost blank by said heads and means to operatethe stack supporting blades, movable member and suction heads in timedsequential relation, whereby the opposed supporting blades are movedinto stack supporting position for supporting the stack when said stacksupport is moved downwardly with the bottommost blank gripped by thesuction heads.

3. Apparatus for successively removing the bottommost blank from a stackof blanks in a. magazine comprising, a pair of opposed stack supportingblades for supporting the stack at opposite sides thereof and mountedfor oscillation into and out of stack supporting position, a verticallymovable member positioned below the magazine, a stack support carried onsaid movable member and arranged centrally of the magazine forsupporting the stack along a central area thereof positioned between thestack supporting blades thereby leaving the end portions normallysupported by said blades unsupported when the blades are oscillated outof stack supporting position, opposed suction heads pivotally mounted onsaid movable member for gripping opposite end portions of saidbottommost blank to pull said end portions downwardly and inwardly andbow the cartons about the stack support thereby defining void spacesbetween the next bottommost blank and the bottommost blank for receivingthe opposed stack supporting blades, said suction heads beingresiliently mounted on said movable member for movement along an axisperpendicular to said blanks during initial engagement of the bottommostblank by said heads and means to operate the stack supporting blades,movable member and suction heads in timed sequential relation, wherebythe opposed supporting blades are moved into stack supporting positionfor supporting the stack when said stack support is moved downwardlywith the bottommost blank gripped by the suction heads.

4. A magazine unloader adapted to remove one blank at a time from astock of blanks in a magazine comprising, first means for supporting thestack of blanks along a longitudinal central axis of the stack, meansfor gripping the portions of the lowermost blank at opposite sides ofsaid first supporting means and for pulling down and in the grippedportions away from the next above carton along an arcuate path, saidfirst supporting means and said gripping means mounted on a verticallymovable member, means for resiliently mounting said gripping means onsaid vertically movable member for movement along an axis perpendicularto said blanks during initial engagement of the bottommost blank by saidgripping means,

second means coacting to support the stack of blanks at the outerportions left exposed by pulling down of the side portions of thelowermost blank, and means for inserting said second means and forlowering said first means when the side portions of the lowermost blankhave been pulled down.

5. Apparatus for successively removing the bottommost blank from a stackof blanks in a magazine comprising, a vertically reciprocated memberpositioned below said magazine, first stack support means carried onsaid member and when in stack support position adapted to support thestack along a central area thereof, a plurality of suction cups arrangedin two gangs, one on each side of said first stack support means, saidgangs of suction cups being pivotally carried on said member and adaptedto grip opposite edge portions of the lowermost blank and pull the edgeportions downwardly and inwardly to define void areas, means forresiliently mounting each suction cup for movement along an axisperpendicular to said blanks during initial engagement of the bottommostblank by each suction cup, second stack support means including a pairof coacting swingably mounted blades adapted to support the stack alongthe opposite edge portions thereof, and

Wagner May 4, 1909 Kent June 13, 1911 8 Swangren Oct. 30, Dixon June 20,Backhouse Mar. 25, Backhouse Oct. 28, LaBoInbarde May 15, Larsen Oct. 8,Gore Dec. 27,

